Methods and apparatuses for controlling traffic lights

Abstract

A method for controlling traffic lights and a traffic light system using such method are provided. The method comprises: a receiving apparatus acquires a vehicle classification of a target vehicle (410), and then determines whether to turn green for a vehicle arriving at a traffic light, according to the vehicle classification (420). Due to a low network delay and high data transmission rate requirement, although applicable in a 4G network environment, the disclosed technology is more suitable for a 5G network environment.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. An apparatus for controlling traffic lights, comprising:
 at least one storage device storing a set of instructions; and 
 at least one processor in communication with the at least one storage device, wherein when the set of instructions is executed, the at least one processor is to:
 acquire a request for switching a target traffic light to green, wherein the request is transmitted from a target vehicle on a first road; 
 establish a model comprising a plurality of dimensions, wherein the plurality of dimensions corresponds to a vehicle classification of the target vehicle, a travel purpose of the target vehicle, and a travel time of the target vehicle; 
 determine the vehicle classification of the target vehicle based on the model; 
 in response to determining that the vehicle classification of the target vehicle is not lower than a first threshold, perform a target operation; and 
 in response to determining that the vehicle classification of the target vehicle is not lower than a road level of a second road and that the vehicle classification of the target vehicle is lower than the first threshold, instruct the target traffic light to turn green, wherein the road level is determined based on a number of a plurality of vehicles on the second road in a target area and vehicle classifications of the plurality of vehicles on the second road in the target area, wherein a color of a traffic light referenced by the target vehicle when travelling in the target area is different from a color of a traffic light referenced by a vehicle travelling on the second road, and wherein the first road and the second road are intersecting roads or different lanes of a same road. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein, to perform the target operation, the at least one processor is to:
 determine that the target traffic light corresponding to the target vehicle turns red when the target vehicle enters the target area, wherein the target area comprises an area within a predetermined proximity to the target traffic light. 
 
     
     
       3. The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein, to perform the target operation, the at least one processor is to:
 instruct the target traffic light to turn green. 
 
     
     
       4. The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein, to perform the target operation, the at least one processor is to:
 determine that the vehicle classification of the target vehicle is not lower than a maximum value of vehicle classifications of all vehicles on the second road in the target area; and 
 instruct the target traffic light to turn green. 
 
     
     
       5. The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the target operation comprises:
 guiding a speed of the target vehicle; and 
 sending vehicle information of the target vehicle to at least one next receiving apparatus in a route of the target vehicle. 
 
     
     
       6. The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein, to determine that the vehicle classification of the target vehicle is not lower than the road level of the second road, the at least one processor is to:
 determine that the vehicle classification of the target vehicle is not lower than a maximum value of the vehicle classifications of all the vehicles on the second road in the target area; and 
 determine that the vehicle classification of the target vehicle is not lower than the road level of the second road. 
 
     
     
       7. The apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the road level of the second road in the target area increases as the number of vehicles on the second road increases, and wherein the road level of the second road in the target area increases as the vehicle classification on the second road increases. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is further to:
 receive a second request sent by the target vehicle when the vehicle classification of the target vehicle changes. 
 
     
     
       9. The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor further:
 changes a color of the traffic light referenced by the target vehicle when travelling in the target area, in response to determining that a continuous duration of a red light or a green light referenced by the target vehicle when travelling in the target area is greater than a second threshold. 
 
     
     
       10. A method for controlling traffic lights, comprising:
 acquiring, by a receiving apparatus, a request for switching a target traffic light to green, wherein the request is transmitted from a target vehicle on a first road; 
 constructing, by the receiving apparatus, a model comprising a plurality of dimensions, wherein the plurality of dimensions corresponds to a vehicle classification, a travel purpose, and a travel time of the target vehicle; 
 determining, by the receiving apparatus, the vehicle classification of the target vehicle based on the model; 
 in response to determining that vehicle classification of the target vehicle is not lower than a first threshold, performing, by the receiving apparatus, a target operation; and 
 in response to determining that the vehicle classification of the target vehicle is not lower than a road level of a second road and that the vehicle classification of the target vehicle is lower than the first threshold instructing, by the receiving apparatus, the target traffic light to turn green, wherein the road level is determined based on a number of a plurality of vehicles on the second road in a target area and a vehicle classification of the plurality of vehicles on the second road in the target area, wherein a color of the traffic light referenced by the target vehicle when travelling in the target area is different from a color of a traffic light referenced by a vehicle when travelling on the second road, and wherein the first road and the second road are intersecting roads or different lanes of a same road. 
 
     
     
       11. The method according to  claim 10 , wherein the target operation comprises:
 determining that the target traffic light corresponding to the target vehicle turns red, when the target vehicle enters the target area, wherein the target area comprises an area within a predetermined proximity to the target traffic light. 
 
     
     
       12. The method according to  claim 10 , wherein the target operation comprises:
 instructing the target traffic light to turn green. 
 
     
     
       13. The method according to  claim 10 , wherein the target operation comprises:
 determining that the vehicle classification of the target vehicle is not lower than a maximum value of vehicle classifications of all transports on the second road in the target area; and 
 instructing the target traffic light to turn green. 
 
     
     
       14. The method according to  claim 10 , wherein the target operation comprises:
 guiding a speed of the target vehicle; and 
 sending vehicle information of the target vehicle to at least one next receiving apparatus in a route of the target vehicle. 
 
     
     
       15. The method according to  claim 10 , wherein determining that the vehicle classification of the target vehicle is not lower than the road level of the second road comprises:
 determining that the vehicle classification of the target vehicle is not lower than a maximum value of the vehicle classifications of all the vehicles on the second road in the target area; and 
 determining that the vehicle classifications of the target vehicle is not lower than the road level of the second road. 
 
     
     
       16. The method according to  claim 15 , wherein the road level of the second road in the target area increases as the number of vehicles on the second road increases, and wherein the road level of the second road in the target area increases as the vehicle classifications on such road increase. 
     
     
       17. The method according to  claim 10 , further comprising:
 receiving a second request sent by the target vehicle when the vehicle classification of the target vehicle changes. 
 
     
     
       18. The method according to  claim 10 , further comprising:
 changing, by the receiving apparatus, a color of the traffic light referenced by the target vehicle when travelling in the target area, in response to determining that a continuous duration of a red light or a green light referenced by the target vehicle when travelling in the target area is greater than a second threshold.